VELUX USA: daylighting portfolio and EPD coverage
Skylights get love in brochures, less so in procurement portals. If a bidder cannot point to a third‑party verified EPD, many projects apply a penalty or sideline the product. Here is how VELUX shows up on that scoreboard today, and where coverage can grow to win more specs with fewer headaches.
Who VELUX is in North America
VELUX is a daylighting specialist with deep roots in roof windows and skylights. In the United States, they serve residential remodel and new build, plus light‑commercial and commercial projects through modular skylights and rooflight systems. Their sustainability reporting is easy to find, and regularly updated on the VELUX site (Sustainability reporting, 2024).
What they sell, at a glance
Product families include deck‑ and curb‑mounted skylights, solar and electric venting units, flat roof windows, tubular Sun Tunnel systems, interior and exterior blinds and shutters, flashings and installation components, and modular or bespoke rooflights for commercial roofs. Counting model variants, sizes, glazing options and finishes, the catalog spans hundreds of SKUs. Not a pure play in one model, rather a focused spectrum across daylighting.
Where EPDs exist today
VELUX has multiple product‑specific EPDs published with European program operators that are commonly accepted on US green building projects when they meet ISO 14025 and EN 15804 or ISO 21930. Examples include roof windows in polyurethane frames with double and triple glazing verified by IBU, valid to May 2027 (IBU EPD, 2022). VELUX Sun Tunnel model TWR also carries an IBU EPD with validity into 2028 (IBU EPD, 2023). Modular skylights have EPDs too, with double and triple glazing versions verified by IBU and valid into 2028 (IBU EPD, 2023).
For quick navigation, VELUX also lists EPDs covering flashings EDN and EDW, installation collars BDX and BFX, selected blinds and shutters, and multiple roof‑window lines on its public EPD page, which helps specifiers map coverage to parts and accessories (VELUX UK EPD page, 2025).
Coverage, simplified
If we bucket the portfolio, EPDs are strongest on roof windows, Sun Tunnels, and modular rooflights, with meaningful support items like flashings and installation kits covered. That means many common assemblies can be fully documented. The rhythm is familiar to project teams, like a playlist that flows without skips.
Notable gaps to watch
We could not locate a published operator‑hosted EPD for the high‑volume FS Fixed Skylight or the self‑flashed EF line on public registries at the time of writing. That does not mean one does not exist, only that it is not readily discoverable where specifiers look first. When a flagship SKU lacks an EPD, teams chasing LEED v5 credits or internal carbon policies tend to pivot to products with verified declarations to avoid default penalties.
Competitors you’ll meet in bids
Residential and light‑commercial: FAKRO frequently appears on the same plans and publishes EPDs across roof windows and flat roof windows, which signals easy compliance in EPD‑asking specs (FAKRO EPD Declarations, 2024). Commercial rooflights and atria: LAMILUX markets EPD‑backed glass skylights, with several certificates current through March 2030, a small but real advantage in formal submittals (NBS Source, 2025). In big‑box and industrial, prismatic dome players like Sunoptics also compete, especially on distribution and retail programs.
What this means for getting specified
EPDs reduce friction in procurement and compliance. They help design teams avoid conservative default factors, which can otherwise nudge a non‑EPD skylight off a shortlist. On LEED v5‑targeted projects, a product‑specific, third‑party verified EPD remains a pragmatic way to keep value engineering from becoming value erosion. Think of it as being playlist‑ready for every building type from education to logistics.
Fast path to close gaps
Prioritize by volume and substitution risk. Start with the fixed and self‑flashed skylight families that drive most orders, then mirror the chosen PCR across size variants to multiply coverage efficiently. Bundle accessories that ride the same submittal, like flashings and blinds, so the whole kit clears reviews together. A partner that makes data collection painless and drives the EPDs through a widely recognized program operator will save months of back‑and‑forth and a lot of weekend emails. It’s not magic, it’s ruthless coordination.
One more thing
VELUX is investing upstream on materials to cut embodied carbon, including long‑term agreements for lower‑carbon steel and aluminum that support future EPD updates and product claims (ArcelorMittal Europe press release, 2024; PR Newswire, 2025). That is a helpful tailwind, but specs still ask for the document in hand. Get the EPDs where the spec lives, then let the material wins shine through.
Sources for the numbers above
- VELUX roof windows PUR double and triple glazing EPD, validity to May 2027 (IBU EPD, 2022).
- VELUX Sun Tunnel TWR EPD, validity to December 2028 (IBU EPD, 2023).
- VELUX Modular Skylights double and triple glazing EPDs, validity to 2028 (IBU EPD, 2023).
- VELUX public EPD overview listing flashings and installation products (VELUX UK EPD page, 2025).
- LAMILUX glass skylight EPDs current to March 2030 (NBS Source, 2025).
- VELUX materials agreements for lower‑carbon steel and aluminum (ArcelorMittal Europe, 2024; PR Newswire, 2025).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which VELUX product families already have published EPDs and through what dates?
Examples include roof windows in polyurethane frames verified by IBU with validity to May 2027, Sun Tunnel TWR with validity into December 2028, and modular skylights with validity into late 2028. See the IBU PDFs linked above for exact dates.
Do EPDs exist for VELUX flashings and installation accessories?
Yes, VELUX lists EPDs for flashings such as EDN and EDW, and installation products like BDX and BFX on its public EPD page (2025).
What should a manufacturer prioritize if a best‑selling skylight lacks an EPD?
Start with the highest‑volume SKU and its most common glazing options, pick the prevailing PCR used by competitors, then replicate across sizes to turn one LCA into many declarations. Bundle accessories in the same submission.
About the Author
John brings a clear, research-driven perspective on the EPD, LCA and HPD space and keeps a close pulse on environmental trends and standards in North America, helping clients understand where the industry is heading and how to get there.
